NACC order out next week — Perez

CABIAO, Nueva Ecija — President Arroyo will finally issue next week an executive order creating the new anti-crime superbody to be called National Anti-Crime Commission (NACC), Justice Secretary Hernando Perez said here yesterday.

Perez, whom the President named NACC head, said the EO has already been finalized following a review made by the Departmentof Justice (DOJ), Department of National Defense (DND) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

"By next week, perhaps we will officially launch it," Perez said after a speech during the inauguration of the new P1.5-million municipal justice building.

Perez, accompanied by Justice Undersecretary Ramon Liwag, also administered the oath of office of Mayor Gloria Crespo-Congco, Vice Mayor Boy Clemente and newly elected councilors, including Jomar Wycoco, younger brother of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Reynaldo Wycoco.

Perez also dismissed speculations the NACC would only turn out to be like the defunct Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF).

He said the NACC will be a specialized body that will concentrate only on big crimes such as kidnapping and illegal detention, drug-related crimes, robberies and other high-profile crimes.

"The NACC will not dip its hands into petty crimes. it will not be like the PAOCTF which even trifled with bouncing checks cases," Perez said.

Perez, however, hinted he may ask for a supplemental budget from the President since the NACC’s initial funding of P20 million will likely be too small for the NACC to properly address the crime situation.

In another development, Perez urged the two prosecutors who filed multiple charges against the suspects in the Kuratong Baleleng rubout case to stand up for their convictions and ignore the death threats they have been receiving.

The DOJ chief said he has also been subjected to death threats by people who would call his home at 4 a.m. to threaten his life.

Perez related his experiences with death threats to embolden state prosecutors Peter Ong and Ruben Zacarias how have complained that some unidentified men have been tailing them.

Ong complained he was followed by a car on his way home on several occasions, starting two weeks ago when he and Zacarias filed the multiple charges before a Quezon City court.

Ong, who headed the prosecution panel, recommended no bail for Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson and other principal accused in the rub-out case.

Aside from Lacson, also facing charges are Chief Superintendents Jewel Canson and Romero Acop and Senior Superintendents Francisco Zubia, Cesar Mancao, Michael Ray Aquino and Glenn Dumlao.

Lacson and his men were charged for the alleged execution of 11 suspecteed Kuratong Baleleng robbery gang members on May 18, 1995 on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.